Vegas Golden Knights: Thoughts from the east coast
As far as road trips go, the Vegas Golden Knights couldn’t have asked for much better during their three game swing on the east coast.
With two wins and an overtime loss, the Vegas Golden Knights returned home with five points from a possible six, which is a fantastic return.
After a woeful November, in which they went a below-par 5-6-3, the Golden Knights started to show some signs of life before hitting the road and they appear to be getting hot at just the right time.
Winning four straight prior to the loss to the New York Islanders in overtime on Thursday, the Knights had beaten both the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils to start the road trip even with future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury away from the team.
They beat the Rangers in dominant fashion, coming out hard and never taking their foot off the gas, before gutting out a win over the Devils who were out to impress Interim Head Coach Alain Nasreddine.
And then, on Thursday, the Golden Knights exchanged blows with a very good Islanders team and went the distance, only to fall in overtime.
But five point points from a possible six from three games in four days is nothing to be sniffed at and this productive road trip lays the foundations for Vegas to finish 2019 strong and start building some momentum heading into the All-Star break.
With the Golden Knights back on home ice tomorrow against the New York Rangers, we thought it would be apt to share some thoughts from the team’s three-game road trip on the east coast…
1. That magical time of year
Okay, so when we think of December we think of Christmas, precious family time, presents under the tree, Santa, etc.
But for the Vegas Golden Knights December means one thing and one thing only – winning.
Because, since they entered the National Hockey League in 2017, the Golden Knights have absolutely killed it in the final month of the year.
Heading into today’s tilt against the New York Rangers, the Knights have an exceptional franchise record of 22-4-5 in December, which proves that this really is the season to be jolly.
So, after winning the first two games of December on the road and claiming a point from the third, Vegas seems to be in the festive spirit this year too.
And, with seven games on home ice still to come this month coupled with a favourable ish schedule, the Golden Knights have the chance to really fatten up their schedule and continue to reign supreme in December.
2. Subban proving his worth
I am the first to admit that I haven’t always been Malcolm Subban‘s biggest fan, and I still think that maybe he’ll benefit from going somewhere where he will get more starts.
But, credit where credit is due, Subban has really stepped up in Marc-Andre Fleury’s absence and the backup has proven his worth to this team.
With Fleury on personal leave following the sad passing of his father, Subban made six straight starts and made 179 saves during that stretch.
He posted an impressive .923 Save Percentage in those six games and helped the Knights to win four straight, including stopping 35 of 36 shots in a shootout win over the Arizona Coyotes on Nov. 29.
Put it simply, Subban really rose to the occasion when his team needed him the most and he proved that he has the credentials to become a decent starter in the NHL.
And he has now given the front office and the coaching staff the option to rest Fleury more down the stretch in order to keep him fresh for the postseason, knowing that Subban can come in and protect the fortress for a sustained run of games.
3. Tuch finding his groove
For the third straight year Alex Tuch was forced to miss the start of the regular season after picking up an injury during the preseason.
The only difference this year was the fact that when Tuch did return, it wasn’t for long due to the fact that the forward was quickly struck down by an upper-body injury.
So, as a result, and coupled with the fact that he’s having to get used to playing third-line minutes, Tuch has enjoyed a frustrating start to his year from a production standpoint.
However, Tuch showed signs of life on this road trip and he really started to break out offensively, tallying six points (three goals, three assists) in three games, including two goals in a matter of minutes against the New York Rangers.
It was a crucial road trip for Tuch in terms of gaining some momentum and confidence, and hopefully the forward can now ride that hot hand and continue to deliver.
Because, it is no secret that the Golden Knights crave secondary scoring and if Tuch, along with Cody Glass, can provide that from the third line, then that will make this team even more dangerous.
4. Cody Glass maturing
Although he’s not really in the conversation when it comes to the Calder Trophy, Cody Glass is having a solid rookie year with the Vegas Golden Knights.
And the best could still be to come.
Used up and down the lineup, Glass hasn’t really had the chance to become the master of one trade yet this year, although that could change.
Currently centering the third line with William Carrier and Alex Tuch as his wings, Glass seems to be thriving in his natural role and the proof is in the pudding.
Take the New York Islanders game for example.
There was one moment in the third period where Glass, who has struggled at 5-on-5 this year, absolutely dominated in that area, being aggressive on the forecheck, defending in the neutral zone and helping to control possession.
He was a +1 in 13:41 minutes of ice time, winning 60 percent of his faceoffs, and it was arguably the rookie’s best outing when playing 5-on-5.
After all, six of Glass’ 11 points have come on the power play so if he starts to become effective while playing 5-on-5, he could be set for a big second half of the year.
5. An important arrival
While dismantling the New York Rangers on Monday, the Vegas Golden Knights front office were busy working the phones.
Because, shortly after the game at Madison Square finished, it was announced that the Knights had acquired forward Chandler Stephenson from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.
Now, while it was hardly a trade that sent a ripple through the NHL, it could prove to be an important trade for the Golden Knights.
Stephenson brings a tenacity and raw speed to the table and that was on display during his debut against the New Jersey Devils, which he marked with a goal.
His speed will open up play and lead to chances, while he’s aggressive on the forecheck and he just adds another dimension to that fourth line.
Able to play up and down the lineup too, Stephenson offers versatility and he’s just the type of swiss-army knife player that any cup contending team needs.
Plus, it also gives the Knights more depth which will allow them to trade Cody Eakin should they wish to free up some cap space and go after a defenseman.
But Stephenson is the exact type of player that ticks a lot of boxes for this team, and he could prove huge both down the stretch and during the postseason.
6. Knights show plenty of character
A lot was thrown at the Vegas Golden Knights during this road trip. Firstly, they were without Marc-Andre for most of it with the goaltender on personal leave.
They were facing the prospect of three tough games in four days and, just hours before facing New Jersey, the Devils fired Head Coach John Hynes and replaced him with Alain Nasreddine as the Interim Head Coach.
As expected, the Devils came out fighting and really taking the game to the Knights, even taking a one-goal lead and then jumping back out in-front later in the game.
But, credit where credit is due, Vegas found a way to dig in and they broke out in the third, scoring three unanswered goals to take control of the contest and ultimately get the win.
Good teams find a way to win even when they aren’t at their best after all, and that’s exactly what the Golden Knights did in New Jersey.
dark. Next. Main takeaways from overtime loss to the Isles
And the Vegas Golden Knights showed an abundance of character throughout the road trip. To be without your future Hall of Famer goalie, playing your backup in all three games but still collecting five points from a possible six is an impressive feat.
This team boasts character and heart in abundance and that was certainly shown time and time again on the east coast, a successful road trip that sets the Vegas Golden Knights up perfectly for the month ahead.